The South Dakota Department of Revenue reports that the 2022 Sturgis Rally tax revenue from temporary vendors totaled about $1.5 million — down 14% from 2021's $1.8 million in revenue.
Lori Haupt, a revenue supervisor with the state revenue department, said it is important to note that this is only revenue from temporary vendors in Sturgis.
"This would be your T-shirt shop that came from another state, or your business selling motorcycle parts, or food shop, or anything of that nature," Haupt said.
This year's revenue correlates with an overall dip in temporary vendors. There were 917 vendors doing business in Sturgis this year — down 97 from last year.
"There's also kind of a cycle to the rally where you're going to see your highest figures on an anniversary year, you know, your 75th and your 80th. And then these kind of middle ones like 82, 83, just tend to be lower," Haupt said.
However, the rally brought in more revenue this year than in 2020 — the 80th anniversary — by about $200,000. Haupt said the COVID-19 pandemic kept 2020 revenues down. .
